The Book on the BoilermakersAt First Glance: Purdue (11-9) returns 15 players from its 2012 squad which posted a 31-22 mark, including a 13-10 Big Ten mark and sixth-place conference finish. Eight position starters and three starting pitchers return, while five newcomers join the roster. The Boilermakers are coached by Kim Maher, who is her eighth year with the team.

Last Time Out: The Boilermakers went 5-0 to take the CenturyLink Classic title in San Marcos, Texas, last weekend. Purdue topped Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the host Texas State Bobcats twice and North Texas once.

Statistically Speaking: The Boilermakers are batting .278 on the season, led by a group of six batters hitting .250 or better. Outfielder Andie Varsho leads the way with a .453 average, 11 RBI, 12 runs and 12 stolen bases. Second baseman Ashley Burkhardt boasts a .369 average with a team-best 16 runs, eight RBI and seven steals. Shortstop/designated player Mary Gooding (.367), third baseman CJ Parsons (.286), outfielder Lindsey Rains (.281) and catcher Danielle Fletcher (.258) follow. Fletcher has driven in a team-best 14 RBI and tallied a team-leading nine extra base hits, including two home runs. Rains has scored 14 runs, and also boasts one home run and seven stolen bases. The Boilermakers are 51-for-63 in stolen base attempts.

Four pitchers are splitting time in the circle for Purdue. The group has combined for a 1.92 ERA and 84 strikeouts, while holding foes to a .215 average. Freshman Lilly Fecho (5-4) has struck out 38 batters in 57 innings, including three complete games and a save. Sophomore Lexy Moore (3-4) has struck out 31 batters in 47 innings, including a shutout, while sophomore Alex Whittemore (1-0) has struck out 11 in 14 innings and boasts a 0.50 ERA. Senior Erika Petruzzi has issued four Ks in 15 innings of work, including a shutout.

Series Information
Baylor (Baylor leads the series 2-1):The Bears won the first two meetings in the series which began on Feb. 12, 2000 at the Pepsi Classic in Arlington, Texas. The Boilermakers took the most recent contest, topping the then No. 7 Bears 6-5 in eight innings at the Getterman Classic in Waco. The first meeting also went extra innings with Baylor taking an 8-6 decision in eight innings.

What a Difference a Win Makes ...
If the Boilermakers top No. 20 Baylor in Game 1 on Saturday...

 They will have beaten their first ranked opponent of the season in six tries. The win will also be Purdue's ninth over a ranked foe under Coach Maher.

 They will move to 12-9 on the season, including a 3-4 mark in away games.

 They will extend their current win streak to six games.

 They will move to 247-154-2 all-time in the month of March, including a 3-5 mark on March 1.

 It would move the team's record to 107-70-4 all-time in non-conference road games.

A Bit About BaylorAt First Glance: The No. 20 Baylor Bears (19-3) return home to play host to the Boilermakers after spending two weeks on the road in San Marcos, Texas, and Tempe, Ariz. Baylor is 10-2 at home in 2013. The team returns 10 letterwinners and seven starters from the 2012 squad which went 34-22, finished sixth in Big 12 Conference play and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. Three redshirts and five newcomers join that group. The Bears are coached by Glenn Moore, who is in his 13th season with the team.

Last Time Out: The Bears went 4-1 last weekend at the Wilson DeMarini Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. Baylor fell to North Carolina to start the tournament, but rebounded with wins over North Dakota (20-4 (5 innings), East Carolina (5-2), Binghamton (6-1) and No. 3 Arizona State (6-2).

Statistically Speaking: Baylor boasts a team batting average of .318 and features seven starters with averages of .250 or better. Third baseman Sarah Smith paces the offense with a .491 average, 11 RBI, 11 runs and three home runs. Outfielders Kaitlyn Thumann (.418), Kathy Shelton (.378) and Linsey Hays (.319) along with shortstop Jordan Strickland (.298), catcher Clare Hosack (.276) and pitcher Whitney Canion (.273) round out the group. Hays has driven in a team-best 15 RBI, scored 15 runs and launched four home runs, while Thumann has scored a team-high 22 runs, swiped 17 bases, driven in 14 RBI and lifted two long balls. Shelton has scored 14 runs, driven in 14 RBI and stolen 14 bases. As a team, Baylor has lifted 15 home runs, by eight different players, and stolen 44 bases.

Four pitchers have seen time in the circle for Baylor, led by Canion (9-2), a lefty who has struck out 92 batters in 65 innings and boasts a 1.18 ERA. Freshman Heather Stearns (5-1) has issued 54 Ks in 39 innings and owns a 0.90 ERA. Senior Courtney Repka (4-0) has struck out 16 batters in 31 innings and is allowing foes just a .133 average, while posting a 0.44 ERA. Junior Liz Paul (1-0) has struck out 11 batters in 12 innings. The staff is holding opponents to a .156 average and less than two runs per game.

For The Record
Senior pitcher/outfielder Erika Petruzzi tied the school record for stolen bases in a game with three against Hampton on Feb. 8. Junior outfielder Andie Varsho also reached the feat, swiping three bases against Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on March 2. Ten players have registered a three-steal effort, marking 23 occurrences.

Varsho tallied the 10th triple of her Purdue career against North Texas, March 2, moving her into a tie for fourth on the career triples list. Five other players have been credited with 10 triples.

Fletcher Joins Elite Group with Grand Slam
Junior catcher Danielle Fletcher launched a grand slam in the team's March 3 contest against Texas State, marking the second of her career and just the 22nd in program history. Eighteen different players have lifted a grand slam, but just four, including Fletcher, have done so more than once.